Studying and learning can get overwhelming. In such instances, I find it really helpful to take the task at hand and break it down into as many separate pieces of work as possible. Clear and precise goals serve to not only create a manageable plan, but also to build a sense of accomplishment upon the completion of each sub-goal. If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do? I would ask them to lead me through, step-by-step, in the process of thinking through the concept. This might take time, but I believe there's always a crucial step that is misunderstood or overlooked when a student is having difficulty. Having them recognize this missing piece is essential to figuring out how to overcome the problem.